FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. have announced a $100,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to support research and development of a major market study. The grant will support targeted research necessary to expand regional business development efforts in Northeast Indiana and Allen County.

“Chase’s leadership and investment in our community is a unique advantage for Northeast Indiana,” said John Sampson, president and CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “The Chase investment will lead a deeper understanding of regional industry strengths and opportunities which we could not otherwise achieve.”

“A focus of JPMorgan Chase’s giving is cities; helping cities develop innovative and sustainable solutions that address their unique challenges,” said Jim Cook, regional president of Chase in Northeast Indiana. “It is critical to Chase that Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana have strong, vibrant communities not only for our business viability but also because for hundreds of employees, this is where we call home.

The major market strategy is the region’s effort to target specific national markets for talent and business attraction. Currently, the two organizations are working toward this with The Road to One Million plan, Northeast Indiana’s Regional Cities Initiative proposal for state funding.

The Regional Partnership will use the funds to identify target markets and collect target industry information, which will allow the organization to tap into national major markets to increase business investment in Northeast Indiana. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. will use the funds to support research of Allen County’s target industries.

“Expanding our strongest industries in Allen County is a cornerstone of Greater Fort Wayne Inc.'s strategy to significantly grow wages. The Chase funding will accelerate these efforts,” said Eric Doden, CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “This kind of investment and leadership takes our community to the next level.”